Cats are very expressive when showing when they are either content or displeased with a situation. They use different parts of their bodies to express to humans and other animals how they feel in a situation. With cats, this can be done using their ears, tails, body position, and through different sounds.
But what about submission? How does a cat show that? Continue reading to learn about how cats show submission.
The 6 Ways Cats Show Submission
1. Lower body to the floor
If you notice cats who interact with other cats and are always responding by lowering their bodies down to the floor in a crouching manner, this means that they are acting submissively in the situation. Moving their body lower to the floor shows the other cat that they are not ready to fight. It’s a way to show they are small, timid, and submitting.
2. Show their tummy
Cats will also show submissive behavior when interacting with other cats (and sometimes their owners) by getting down low to the floor and rolling onto their side showing their tummy. This is a common behavior in some animals as the stomach area is very sensitive and houses all their important organs, so showing it to another animal shows that they are not a threat.
3. Kick with legs
Another way cats will show their submission in social situations is to lower their bodies to the ground and in play, they will generally prefer to kick with their back legs. The more dominant cat will be upright and possibly even on top of the more submissive cat to express a larger size. The submissive cat will display that they are okay with playing but will not challenge the other cat.
4. Tail down and between legs
Animals will also use their tails to express how they feel in a social situation. This behavior is more commonly known in dogs, but cats will also show this behavior when expressing their submission. Usually, when happy, a tail will be upright or slightly twitching to show happiness. Alternatively, if their tails are down, it means they are timid, shy, and submissive.
5. Flatten ears back
One of the easier ways to tell that a cat is showing submission is when they flatten their ears down closer to their heads and pull them back slightly. This is another way they use their bodies to make themselves appear smaller, less intimidating, and not a threat. It shows the other cat in the situation that they do not want to challenge them and are accepting their dominance.
6. Avoid eye contact
Much like humans, more submissive cats will show their behaviors by avoiding direct eye contact. With many animals, direct eye contact is a way of challenging or threatening another. It is a way of showing that you are not backing down and will fight for dominance. When the alternative is done (not making eye contact), it shows the opposite; the cat is not challenging you and will submit.
In Conclusion
Cats are very wise animals who will use their sounds, like hissing and meowing, and their bodies, like whipping their tails or showing their tummies, to express whether they are being submissive or dominant in a social situation with other cats and humans. It is the way animals communicate whether they are accepting or denying a new furry friend and can also be seen as a way to decide on the alpha animal in a household.
Featured Image Credit: evrymmnt, Shutterstock